Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-04-19
GEN. SHERIDAN'S LECTURE
coNTRovERTlNG THE ANTERELlG-
loUs VIEWS or BOB lNGERsoLL.

A Large Audiences .Grects Him In . wash
ington Theater-A Lecture Of. Logical
EIoquence, and Exquisite Bits Of Pathos
and Husnor-Noted People Present.
WASHINGTON, April 10 - Gen. George
Sheridan, delivered his lecture, "A Modern
Pagan yesterday evening at the New Ma
tional theater before large audience con-
troyerting the anti-religious views Of Col
Robert Ingersoll. The lecturer was intro
duced by Hon. John Sherman, and among
the many prominent people present were SEN
ator Beck. ex-Congressman Mitchell, OF Con-
necticut, q lauge number Of members OF the
har and many ladies.
The lecture abounded In passages Of logical
eloquence, exquisite bits OF pathos and hui
NOR. and was received with hearty demon.
strations of approval Gen. Sheridan said It
was not his purpose to utter defense Of the
Christian religion It was to show the
evil effects Of the course adopted by Col In
gersoll-whom he said he knew to be person
ally one of the most worthy and able OF
men, good son, faithful husband, an at
fectionate father, and Q grand patriot, but
when be approaches the subject Of religion.
tile mantle of his general personality falls
from his shoulders: his judgment is warped,
and he becomes at once the loudest OF boast.
ersand the most unfair Of disputants No
man has ever assailed the Christian religion
with more eloquence, less skill, worse logic.
50 much conceit and so little learning.
The lecturer then charged Ingersoll with
declining to meet men competent to discuss
tho questions with him. In fact he never
met hut one really able Inan--the late Judge
.Tere Biack-and then the instant he felt the
steel ran from the field. In discussing the
questions of Christianity, Ingersoll creates
spurious issues; he utterly ignores the work
6f Christianity: he neither comprehends nor
appreciates the excellence and magnitude Of
he achievement among us OF the system he
so fiippantly assails. Relative to God, His
ways and works. imper. inent, and disrespect-
full. He says he does not understand God,
and therefore he does not believe there Is
one He does not understand electricity but
it goes on elactrifying He does not under
stand the affinity of soul for soul, still the
stars look down on fair maidens, listening to
the eager voice of youth as 1t whispers the
old, old story that has frightened all the
ages and millions of homes in our great land
tonight are joyous with the songs Of those
whose souls are H6lu CLOSE USoOu0T Dy Uuo
same invisible cords that since the birth Of
time have been woven in the loom Of love.
.sIngersoll should consider the effect Of
his attacks on religion before giving them
publicity. He has no right to parade his va
grant fancies before the community as a
code Of morals Estimating his philosophy
by the spirit that characterizes his utter
ances, it Is both shallow and unkind. He 4
mad clear through; mad from the polished
top Of his intellectual dome to the soles Of
his infidel feet, with Christians and Chris
tianity.. He has no right to destroy q mud
hut unless he can give its occupant better
or equally good place to live in: no right *
strike the cup OF water from the thirsty
mans hand in the desert because it Is muddy
unless he can give purer. Mr.. Ingersoll Il .
moral and, intellectual Anarchist
His peroration was an outburst Of thrilling
eloquence, describing the Anarchial ten
denotes of infidelity. He portrayed Col
Ingersoll as the assailant of the sublimest
teaching Of philosophy, of poetry, and d
science Of ancient and of modern times, with
out offering substitute or q better thing
Ingersoll, be said, was employing his genius
and oratory in extinguishing the trues
source Of happiness, and subverting the very
basis of civilization itself.
+ - -
4 a Benedt Failure.